Archive for the ‘Gadgets/Products’ Category

Rumor has it that Hyundai is working on its own telematics system to rival GM's OnStar and Ford's Microsoft Sync. The news comes via a memo from Hyundai's manager of brand strategy, wherein he asks members of a focus group to help name the new product. Apparently, the system will have four  major focuses, including safety/security, news/entertainment, navigation, and diagnostics. Of the names suggested so far -- including "Fuse" and "Emerge" -- none really stand out, but then, we weren't asked.

If true, this is an intriguing bit of news for Hyundai, which is riding a wave of positive press these days. However, we have to wonder where the...

"The Cloud" is hot news these days: it gives people the ability to upload data to the web -- spreadsheets, movies, music files -- and access them from anywhere. That's exciting stuff, and it explains why Ford has cracked open the operating system on its popular Sync software for students at the University of Michigan, allowing them to develop applications that bring cloud computing and social media into  vehicles.  We're totally onboard with opening up source code, though we wonder if this could result in even more distractions for drivers. And here's an equally important question: will mobile internet -- like the kind GM offers on its...

Microsoft has lost face in recent years -- both in court and in the marketplace -- but with the release of Windows 7, the folks from Redmond are working hard to restore the company's stature. One of the ways they're doing that is via strategic partnerships, including some targeted directly at auto enthusiasts. Example: a selection of Windows 7 theme galleries that allow users to customize their desktop environment with images and icons from Infiniti, Porsche, and Ferrari. (Sadly, the packs aren't backwards-compatible, so XP and Vista users are left out of the fun.) Even this simple move seems a sea-change for thoroughly proprietary...